Case Number 25664

SUPERMAN: UNBOUND

The Charge

"I am the strength of ten thousand worlds."

Opening Statement

Warner Brothers and DC keep chugging along with more direct-to-video animated
features, adapting graphic novels from various eras of DC history. After several
Batman movies, it's time to turn the attention back to Metropolis, with a
modernized retelling of Superman's first encounter with the sinister
Brainiac.

Facts of the Case

You know the deal: Superman is the world's greatest superhero, saving the
world on a regular basis. In secret, he's mild-mannered Clark Kent, etc.

As this story begins, Superman's life faces two complications. First, he's
secretly dating Lois Lane, and she thinks it's time they let everyone know.
Second, his cousin Kara Zor-el recently arrived on Earth. She left Krypton the
same time he did, but was in suspended animation until now. Very much
unaccustomed to life on Earth, she now fights crime as Supergirl. Superman
worries that she's too young and too out-of-control.

An alien probe arrives, and Supergirl knows that means Brainiac is coming to
Earth. Brainiac is the one who removed the city of Kandor from Krypton, and he's
the only thing Supergirl fears.

The Evidence

Loosely based on the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac by Geoff Johns
and Gary Frank, Superman: Unbound zips right along from beginning to end,
a quick paced superhero caper with a lot of action. As usual, each of these DC
animated flicks is a stand-alone, so you don't need to know a ton of continuity
to follow the action. Newbies might be confused by Supergirl's backstory,
though. It's established that she's his cousin, but references to a wormhole and
Argo City -- not to mention how and why she's only been on Earth a short time --
go by so quick that those not familiar with the character might be lost. Beyond
that, though, this is an old-fashioned Supes adventure, one casual viewers and
obsessive fans can both enjoy.

The creators really try to make Brainiac a formidable enemy. He's bulked up
so he's covered with muscles and several feet taller than Superman. His flying
fortress is loaded with deadly, sun-destroying missiles, and he has all kinds of
gadgets, death traps, and robot troops at his disposal. Still, this is Superman,
and we all know Superman will save the day in the end. Therefore, the story has
to be about more than just super-punching. It's established early on that Lois
is ready for her and Clark to move on the next step in their relationship,
whatever step that might be. When the Earth is in peril, it's also Superman's
future with Lois that's in danger. This gives the cosmic conflict personal,
emotional stakes for ol' Red Boots.

What makes Superman: Unbound interesting is that it's not just ol'
Red Boots, but lil' Red Boots as well. Supergirl's presence has us seeing
Superman in a new light. She's very much an alien, not used to life on Earth.
Unlike him, she can remember Krypton, and she's still dealing with the loss of
everyone she knew back home. Don't worry, Supergirl's still the nice girl, but
her situation and her impetuous youth make her an unpredictably wild card in
Superman's life.

Yes, character development is good and all, but this is a superhero cartoon,
so let's not forget the action. Superman and Supergirl take on waves of Brainiac
robot drones, so there's the usual "it's OK to have dismemberments and
beheadings in a cartoon because they're only robots" thing. Brainiac spends
most of the movie as a one-note generic baddie, but at the end, we get to see
the real him, as the final battle between him and Superman gets philosophical as
well as physical. Brainiac seeks order and perfection in all things. Superman,
having grown up on Earth, accepts and even loves humanity for our imperfections
and flaws, not in spite of them. This is illustrated in a nice way during the
finale, allowing for Superman to get the upper hand in the fight.

Matt Bomer (White Collar) takes a low-key, everyman approach to
voicing Superman, which works just fine. Contrasting that, John Noble
(Fringe) plays Brainiac as big and boisterous. Stana Katic
(Castle) nails Lois Lane's feistiness and sarcasm, and her compassionate
side as well. Serving comic relief duties are Alexander Gould (Finding
Nemo) as Jimmy Olsen and Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show) as
obnoxious Daily Planet staffer Steve Lombard. The real standout among the cast,
though, is Molly Quinn (also of Castle) as Supergirl. We've seen her play
the nice girl on Castle, and now we get her playing the tough girl. She
does it excellently, disappearing into the character, so that you'd never know
it was her. Quinn simply becomes Supergirl with this performance.

This is bright, colorful animation, and the colors really pop on this disc,
with no apparent flaws. Sound is good as well, with a lot of big, booming
explosions. All we get for extras are some trailers, including an extended one
for the next DC flick, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox.

The Rebuttal Witnesses

Lois Lane has bright purple eyes. Good God, why are her eyes purple?!?

Closing Statement

Superman: Unbound isn't the deepest or most status-changing Superman
tale, but it's fun -- a pleasant hour and a half hanging out with Clark, Lois,
and Kara. That's all it has to be.